Radio Bantu was established in South Africa through apartheid government efforts in the 1960s with the aim of promoting the protection and preservation of forms of Indigenous culture in South Africa. In reality, the creation of Radio Bantu was political; it was a concerted effort to isolate Black Africans in South Africa, to reinforce tribal consciousness and ethnic separatism, so that the white South Africans would further and maintain political dominance. Drawing largely upon the research he has conducted on Northern Sotho Radio and Radio Ndebele—two of the nine African language radio stations established by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) during the apartheid era—Sekibakiba P. Lekgoathi’s presentation provides an overview of the history of radio in South Africa.  His research demonstrates the main motives behind the establishment of Radio Bantu, as well as on the affirmative strategies and empowerment of the medium undertaken by the Africans who worked at these radio stations to reimagine their own identities.

The presentation contextualises the propaganda film Bantu—a new society, commissioned by the Ministry of Information (South Africa), produced by Killarney Film Studios. Duration: 13' 40". Publishing date: unknown.

The film is kindly provided by SİNEMA TRANSTOPIA